QB Blaine Gabbert escapes from the pocket as head coach Mike Mularkey (right) watches during team drills in June. Maurice Jones-Drew has not attended drills and practices in a holdout with the Jaguars.

The Jaguars have grown accustomed in recent years to dealing with criticism from the national media. They usually just let it slide. But when an NFL Network analyst said on air Tuesday night that there’s a disconnect between head coach Mike Mularkey and the players over the Maurice Jones-Drew holdout, the Jaguars felt compelled to fire back.

Former NFL fullback and NFLN employee Heath Evans told the audience that Mularkey was “distancing himself from his players” over not communicating with Jones-Drew during his 15-day holdout, a statement that runs contrary to what the Jaguars’ coach has already said publicly about having phone conversations with the team’s star running back.

Mularkey was unaware of Evans’ remarks until it was brought up to him at his news conference Thursday. While the alleged locker room disconnect wasn’t presented to Mularkey as tied to lack of communication with Jones-Drew during his holdout, he replied: “You can’t overreact to anything that’s being said. . . . That’s comical to me that they would make a comment like that.”

Several players were critical of any suggestion that Mularkey might be losing the locker room. The overwhelming feeling in camp is that he’s gone out of his way to cultivate open communication about all team-related matters.

“That’s kind of hilarious, that’s just the opposite of what’s been happening,” said offensive lineman Eben Britton. “It really feels like a professional football organization from top to bottom. I’ve never been a part of a team that’s so acutely attentive to details.”

Veteran guard Uche Nwaneri dismissed Evans’ assertion that there’s any kind of division between Mularkey and the players over Jones-Drew’s holdout.

“Honestly, I really believe it’s a hungry team. Everybody’s all in with what Coach Mularkey is doing,” Nwaneri said. “There’s not one person in this locker room who feels like we don’t have a chance to win every Sunday if we do everything that’s asked of us – finishing blocks, finishing runs, finishing routes, defense finishing tackles. I couldn’t imagine where someone would think there’s dissension that’s creeping in because there’s absolutely zero. There’s none of that.

“Maurice’s situation, that’s a business situation. It’s not affecting us and how our team functions on the field. Of course, we’d like that issue to be settled, but at the end of that day, that’s the business side of football. It’s not a personal thing against the team, the players or coaches. That’s been made clear to all of us from day one, to anybody who has talked to Maurice about the situation.”

Any questions about outside criticism of the Jaguars were quickly played down by Mularkey, who repeatedly cautioned against overreacting.

“[Criticism] just happens everywhere,” Mularkey said. “You can’t be influenced by things that are said. Governments are influenced by the media and what’s said, let alone NFL football teams. You’ve got to be careful what you hear and believe.”

He is the clear cut #1 because he is 22, was drafted in the top 10 last year, given a lucrative contract, possesses all of the attributes you hope for in a franchise quarterback, and according to all reports and my own eyes has been playing much better than Chad Henne, Jordan Palmer, or Nate Enderle. Granted, he had a bad rookie season playing under difficult circumstances but you don't give up on a top 10 draft pick after 14 games (see Nelson, Reggie; Harvey, Derrick; Jones, Matt; Williams, Reggie).

Tim Tebow is a wonderful human being. Just the kind of young man you would want your daughter to marry. Is he a top tier NFL QB? No. Will he be a top tier NFL QB? No.

Now what the heck does this article from the NFL network and the Jaguars have to do about Tebow? Why is it every time there is an article discussed about the Jaguars someone brings up Tebow?

Get over it. Tim choose the New York Jets over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He wanted to play in the Big Apple. He turned his back on Jacksonville and all you Tebow fans. You may not want to believe it but is the truth and the whole truth.

Atreas, what did the jags do? Ok let me ask you a question back. What have the jags not done? Lots of things come to mind.

You do have a new owner who is currently repeating what the old owner did for those 9 years. Saying we want to win but then asked for action hides like a little girl. We have the coach who lost out to JDR several years ago, wow that something to celebrate about.

Not a tebow fan but I do respect him.

The media does not have to create anything but just watch the jags admin and wait for them to step in it as they always seem to do. Some recent issues the jags admin have handled poorly, the draft and the punter, blackmon, MJD, several nasty comments from the new owner about the fans, ETC... Should I go on?

I would love to see the jags actually do what they like a crooked politician have promised for over 10 years, that is win. They dont have to go to the superbowl just not look like goobers.